Creative Clusters 2007, London: Programme

The fifth Creative Clusters Conference takes place at a turning point for the UK’s creative economy agenda. It is ten years since Chris Smith took over the UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), set up the Creative Industries Task Force and commissioned the initial research into Britain’s creative industries. The DCMS Mapping Document that followed a year later introduced the phrase ‘creative industries’ to mainstream politics, and the term soon came to signify a set of policy concepts that were taken up across the world.

Now, with a change of Prime Minister in the UK triggering a mood of reassessment and renewal, stakeholders in the creative industries agenda are taking stock. The government’s Creative Economy green paper, due to be published shortly before Creative Clusters, will provide the fullest analysis yet of the http://www.troakley.com/ creative sector’s importance to the UK economy, and to Britain’s international standing. It will propose a policy framework for the next ten years, that will feature strongly in the conference agenda.

But there is more to ‘taking stock’ than renewing the grand narrative. The great challenge for this sector is that our work must resonate on many levels. Policy initiatives, and their underlying rationale, must take into account the demands of individual creativity, the interests of local and regional culture, as well as the social and economic forces of globalisation.

Creative Clusters is firmly rooted in the practical and the local: we want to know how policy initiatives actually play out in the ground. The core of our programme is made up of case studies of ground-breaking and exemplary projects from around the world, that offer lessons for policy development. There will be a special emphasis on the local areas of London in which the conference is taking place, with study-tours to leading initiatives across London: the City Fringe, Brixton, Soho, Lewisham, the South Bank, Exhibition Road, Paddington, Hackney and more.

But a focus on London does not mean we are London-centric. Creative Clusters includes voices and projects from across the UK regions, and from across the world.

For our international visitors, there has never been a better time to visit London. The UK’s creative industries are booming, and London is being called the ‘world creative capital’. Yet the more we work with other countries and cultures, the more we find we have still to learn. We aim to make Creative Clusters cheap oakleys a truly global forum, and we invite you to bring with you your own experiences and insights.

Pre-conference 1 (Fri 9 Nov)

The Cultural Impact of the Games: The cultural and creative impact of the 2012 Games8:30am to 7:00pm, DCMS, Cockspur StreetChaired by Simon Evans, Creative Clusters

A pre-conference seminar held at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport office in London followed by lunch and a coach tour of creative businesses in East London hosted by the 2020 Legacy team at East London Business Association and SPACE Studios.

From the outset, culture and education have been seen as a central component of the UK’s Olympic project. This all-day event looks at how this vision is being realised and will include presentations by and discussions with senior DCMS officials and advisors about the current plans for the Cultural Olympiad, and the long-term creative and cultural impact of the Games.

After lunch, at DCMS, the afternoon is spent meeting creative businesses in the East London that are preparing for the Olympics and Paralympics.

The day will finish with a presentation and drinks at SPACE Studios.

The Creative Legacy of the Olympics: The symbolic dimension of the Games as a basis for cultural sustainabilityBeatriz Garcia, Director, Impacts 08 – The Liverpool Model, University of Liverpool, UK

Cultural Impact of the 2012 Games: Culture, the cultural olympiad and the gamesKeith Khan, Head of Culture, London 2012, UK

The 5 Boroughs and the Olympics: Citizenship, the arts and a legacy for the five.Guy Nicholson, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and the 2012 Olympic Games, London Borough of Hackney, UK

This is a chance to register and meet your conference colleagues before the rush, in the convivial surroundings of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s regular Friday evening opening.

You will receive a drink on arrival to enjoy with your fellow delegates whilst exploring the V&A’s unrivalled permanent collection of art and design, and attending the special one-night-only event, ‘Black Box Black Style: 70s Retro Radical and Culture Showcase’ – an event of music, film and talks that form part of the Uncomfortable Truths series commemorating Britain’s parliamentary abolition of the transatlantic slave trade, which is being held at the V&A throughout 2007.

This event enables you to re-live the 70s, a time that changed the way second generation black British youth addressed oppression, and remember what took place socially, culturally and politically with film and discussion. There will be DJs dropping tunes that we know and love, a live Afro-rock band and the opportunity to print iconic and radical style T-shirts or make badges. Visitors are invited to dress up and show what the Afro and Dashiki did for British style culture and have a photograph taken for the V&A’s Day of Record archive.

Pre-conference 2 (Sun 11 Nov)

Lewisham Grand Tour: A masterclass on the move11:45am to 4:00pm, Meet at Queen Elizabeth Hall

This half-day tour will introduce the creative cluster development model, and give insights into the complexities and tensions experienced over a twenty-year regeneration period. Led by Andrew Carmichael, one of the UK’s most experienced experts in local creative economy development, you will visit leading creative industries projects and meet their CEOs: The Albany, Art in Perpetuity Trust, Cockpit Arts, and Laban, Europe’s largets contemporary dance centre.

NESTA Welcome Reception6:00pm to 8:00pm, London Television Studios (ITV)

We welcome you to London at the headquarters of ITV, the UK’s leading commercial television network. ITV’s reception suite, on the South Bank, enjoys spectacular views over the Thames. Light refreshments will be served.

At the heart of the Mayor’s development strategy for London is the belief that cultural diversity is the driver of London’s creativity. How is this playing out amongst black creative entrepreneurs in Brixton, one of the most deprived boroughs in the UK? Steve Reed, Leader of Lambeth Council, local creative entrepreneur Marc Boothe, Director of B3 Media and Rosemary Emodi, who leads the London Mayor’s cultural diversity projects, discuss how the creative industries are central to Brixton’s future.

Creativity Works: The role of cultural entrepreneurs and artists as catalysts for change.Marc Boothe, Director, B3 Media, UK

Creative China: From ‘Made in China’ to ‘Created in China’11:00am to 12:30pm, The Purcell Room, Southbank CentreChaired by Peter Stark, cultures in regeneration

The scale of change in China, and the increasing sophistication of China’s producers and consumers, is still not well understood in Europe. A common-expressed view is that in the future our goods may be made in China, but will still be designed in the West. But China’s growth will not stop at manufacturing, and this vast economy is fast developing its own creative capacities. The explicit policy goal is that ‘Made in China’ should become ‘Created in China’.This session includes an expert analysis of China’s approach to creative industries, an account of creative developments in Shanghai and the vast conurbation of the Yangste River Delta, and a case study of how one UK university is working in partnership with China.

This session looks at crossovers, at the surprising synergies and leaps in innovation that are made possible, and at the new opportunities that are opened up, when art, technology, science and industry meet and cross-fertilise. These three case studies demonstrate that some of the richest territory for growth in the creative economy lies at the intersection between social, technical and cultural innovation. What more can we do to bring technological wizardry, creative imagination and entrepreneurial energy together?

Disability gets a Second Life: A case study of cerebral palsy and empowerment in Second LifeSimon Stevens, Chief Executive, Enable Enterprises, UK

Exploring the Science/Art Landscape: Sci-Art as a driver of the creative economyTerry Trickett, Architect and Designer, Trickett Associates, UK

Celebrating Enterprise presents a selection of short films as part of a media training programme lead by Circus Media.

As part of the Celebrating Enterprise project, Circus Media developed specialised courses, targeted at Celebrating Enterprise partner festivals and individuals specifically interested in filming live events. The main emphasis was very much on developing practical and theoretical understanding of filmmaking and equipping under-represented community groups with the skills, production awareness and above all confidence to capture their local events on film.

Brixton in South London boasts a vibrant history of creativity and diverse cultural enterprise. Renowned for its fashion, music, digital media and visual arts, the area is the unofficial capital of the Jamaican, British African and Caribbean community of London.

Following an introductory session at the Southbank Centre exploring Brixton’s cluster of creative enterprises and regeneration initiatives, board a coach to Brixton’s B3 Media where you will cheap oakley sunglasses enjoy a Caribbean lunch whilst networking with some the area’s leading creative entrepreneurs.

The afternoon will see these creative enterprise leaders taking part in a showcase and debate which will look at the opportunities and challenges for young people in the creative industries, identifying what interventions might help to promote young creatives in Brixton.

Cultural Masterplanning: How to achieve transformation through art1:45pm to 3:30pm, Meet at Queen Elizabeth Hall

Take the Arts & Business and Futurecity boat from Festival Pier to a site by the River Thames to see first hand the fruits of the exciting new technique for urban place making, Cultural Masterplanning.

Aboard the boat, Futurecity and Arts & Business will present their policy paper on urban place making, which provides an introduction to the collaborative techniques and theory behind Cultural Masterplanning and demonstrates how to turn cities into neighbourhoods through arts-led transformation and an authentic cultural experience reached by integrating culture into every part of a development process.

The Artist As Property Developer: Cultural buildings as part of the infrastructure of the modern city2:00pm to 3:30pm, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank CentreChaired by Peter Stark, cultures in regeneration

From Abu Dhabi to Aberdeen, Shepway to Shanghai, new zones devoted to creativity and culture are being designated in cities and towns across the world. The functional emphasis varies: they might be places for cultural consumption, for creative industries production, or for tourism and heritage. But always, these cultural zones (or districts or quarters) are seen as key to a place’s identity, renewal and modernity, civic infrastructure as essential as a railway station was 150 years ago.This session looks at the increasingly important role of cultural buildings in the development and regeneration of cities. What are the implications for the cultural sector when arts buildings are so central to the identity, and the economy, of cities?

Especially in the creative industries, training alone is not enough to prepare new entrants for employment in the creative industries. Three leading practitioners open a discussion on the role of mentoring and one-to-one support programmes in preparing people for careers in the film and fashion sectors.

Move On Up: How positive action by union-employer partnerships can address diversityJanice Turner, Move On Up Project Director, BECTU, UK

Compass Point and Diverse Talent: Training and publicity to increase diversity in film and television.Paul Moody, Screen Academy Executive, National Film & Television School, UK

Mentoring in the Fashion Sector: How mentoring works for fashion – a model for the creative industries?David Jones, Fashion Consultant, London Apparel, UK

This session looks at three manufacturing areas whose industries are deeply rooted in individual creativity and artisanship: Stourbridge in England (glass), Yingge in Taiwan (ceramics) and Milan. Each is trying to transform and diversify their economies, but without losing their unique creative and cultural qualities.How does (should?) an area that is seen as an industrial black-spot reconfigure its factories as tourism destinations? How can development agencies foster new creative enterprise around local artisanship and skills?

AVE Screening: Audio Visual Entrepreneurship – A selection of short films2:00pm to 3:30pm, Studio, BFI SouthbankChaired by John Prescott, Skillset

Three short films by the Audio Visual Entrepreneurship Development Partnership, which provides individuals from under-represented groups with opportunities to develop the skills, knowledge and experience to develop successful businesses within the audio visual industries. Increasing the presence of under-represented groups leads to more on-screen diversity and opens the field of creative expression to new talent.

Globalisation is bringing rapid change to all aspects of the fashion industry: the processes of design, production, marketing and sales are all undergoing intense development. In London, major efforts have gone into developing this sector in recent years.This session looks at the challenges facing British designers, reviews some of the major interv
entions, and asks which direction policy should take next. What has to happen for UK fashion to overtake its continental European competitors?

One consequence of the clustering phenomenon is that, left to their own devices, resources and activity will tend to concentrate in major cities, particularly capital cities. But regions cannot sit back and let this happen. Much recent work has recommended that regional interventions in the creative economy should focus on a major city and its hinterland: the ‘city-region’. But though both cities and regions usually have an historical identity and a political structure, the ‘city-region’, as such, rarely has either. How, then, are interventions based on the city-region to get started? Some places have found this more of an opportunity than a weakness… Case studies from Sweden, the USA and the west of England introduce a discussion on how the regions are fighting back.

Artists and creative businesses move into a run-down area, set up work-space in abandoned buildings, and begin to co-operate in improving their locale. This is the signal for private property developers to move in and before long the whole area has become gentrified.From a traditional economic development point of view, this is a narrative of success. But the creatives who began the process and who are now priced out, will tell another story. The massive developments planned around the Olympics is bringing this issue into sharp focus for creative people in East London.This session looks at the dynamic of increasing property values and asks how can it be used to benefit creative enterprise.

Unwind and socialise at this informal ‘fashion reception’ with wine and canapés at the Queen Elizabeth Hall.

Be our guest at an evening of fashion glitz, with thirty stunning models showcasing designs from a wealth of new and established designers who have benefited from the support offered by the evening’s host Cutting IT. As a wide reaching project involving a unique and diverse collaboration of partners from across the fashion sector, Cutting IT has had a significant impact on the sector and supported hundreds of beneficiaries, from some of the UK’s top fashion designers, to manufacturers, to young people. Meet some of them at this stylish event and make the most of the opportunity to establish a few connections of your own.

A few years ago, its Director-General famously described the BBC as ‘hideously white’. Arguably his comment would apply equally today to any social minority, and to all of mainstream television – despite some substantial efforts to bring new voices into media production. In this session three very experienced practitioners come together to share their attempts to help people that society has disadvantaged into media careers.

It is widely understood that SME start-up and survival rate are the key indicators of a growing creative economy. The support landscape has been transformed in the last twenty years, and, thanks to television programmes like The Apprentice and Dragons Den, it is now fashionable to be an entrepreneur.A host of support agencies are falling over each other to help the aspiring entrepreneur. But what works? Can the high rate of failure of new businesses be reduced, or is this part of the inevitable churn? This session focuses on entrepreneurship and leadership, and asks whether we should be looking primarily at business plans, or at individuals, to identify early-stage success factors.

In 2005 the Scottish Parliament’s Cultural Commission recommended far-reaching structural changes, including local cultural entitlements for citizens backed by a framework of rights, a new single cultural agency (‘Creative Scotland’), and direct government funding of national performing companies. Some recommendations are still being considered, but the first changes will be rolled out in 2008. Speakers leading major projects at opposite ends of Scotland – urban Glasgow, and the remote Shetland Islands – set the scene for a review and discussion of the deep cultural changes afoot north of the border.

Glasgow: Creative industries and the transformation of Glasgow’s Merchant CityBailie Gordon Matheson, Executive Member for Education and Social Renewal, Glasgow City Council, UK

The City Hall Glasgow: Creative Hub: A creative cluster has taken shape in Glasgow based on the music industryMark Sheridan, Head of Department, University of Strathclyde, UK

The Power of Place: Shetland’s awakening to its biggest creative asset, the islands themselvesGwilym Gibbons, Director, Shetland Arts Development Agency, UK

Measuring Festivity: Assessing the economic and social impact of public celebration9:00am to 10:30am, Performance Space, Rich MixChaired by Peter Stark, cultures in regeneration

What role do public celebratory events have in developing the creative economy of a locale? How do we measure their effect, and what do we measure – just the economic impact, or something broader?Our speakers set the scene for a discussion of the development value of public celebration and festivity with presentations on East London’s festivals, and on one of the world’s longest-established carnivals, Trinidad.

This visit will elucidate on the active participation of the private sector alongside the public sector to generate outcomes which truly represent added value. From effective planning polices developed to support a local industry to industry-led training to the development of London Jewellery Week, these projects and others combine to form the Jewellery Sector Investment Plan. It is this approach of sector development which the CFP believe is having long term impacts on the Jewellery sector.

Creative Skills: How is the UK government meeting the skills needs of creative businesses?11:00am to 12:30pm, Screen 2, Rich MixChaired by Lee Corner, LAC Limited

A principal goal for UK government policy for the creative economy is to ensure that there is the right supply of skilled labour coming into the market to meet the needs of creative businesses.How is the government going about this? What are the skills required? How are they best developed? It is widely agreed that work-based learning is an essential element, but how should employers and training providers work together? How are employers to be encouraged to skill-up their existing workforce?The discussion is introduced by presentations from three of the principal UK players in this field: Creative and Cultural Skills, the Design Council, and Skillset.

Space in the City: Creative and cultural workspace in cities in transition11:00am to 12:30pm, Screen 3, Rich MixChaired by Peter Stark, cultures in regeneration

In cities experiencing rapid change, creative people are often the first to take advantage of new circumstances. But success generates new challenges, particularly over buildings and workspace. This session brings stories from three contrasting locations.In the last twenty years Berlin has witnessed more symbolic and substantive change than any other European city, and the creative sector has blossomed. In Japan, after new laws for the first time provided a structure for non-profit activity, artists are taking a growing part in public life in the Japanese cities of Yokohama and Osaka. And from Iran, we hear about the city of Tehran’s strategy for the development of its cultural and creative spaces.

Create Berlin: City of new beginnings – city of promiseGraeme Evans, Director, Cities Institute, London Metropolitan University, UK

Countries in Central and Eastern Europe have a high percentage of people in creative occupations, but with weak internal markets and limited opportunities for export, the creative economy is heavily reliant on meagre state funds supporting cultural production and the heritage sector.At a time when, in the UK at least, the quality of debate on Eastern Europe seems to have reached an all-time-low, we bring together three practitioners to throw some light on the realities of creative development in the new Europe, on the impact of emigration, and on some new development strategies that have application far beyond Europe.

As creative industries move up the agenda and policy initiatives are under pressure to demonstrate economic outcomes, governments’ focus is shifting from supporting smaller scale initiatives and micro businesses, to bigger players and attracting global creative business.But is this policy shift destroying the grassroot level of the creative supply chain? Shouldn’t policy initiatives pay attention to the broad ecology of the creative industries?Nine entrepreneurs from the area describe their work as a hundred images play out behind them, in a breathless, thought-provoking 50 minutes.

Initiatives to understand and develop the creative workforce are at the centre of policy for the creative economy around the world. This session reports on two major research programmes into the creative workforce from Washington, USA, and from Queensland University of Technology in Australia; and on a ground-breaking competency-based qualifications framework for the creative sector that is being developed in Singapore.

The Creative Economy’s Workforce: What does ‘creative economy’ actually mean in statistical terms ?Peter L. Higgs, Senior Research Fellow, CCI at Queensland University of Technology, Australia

Through expert case-studies of creative clusters in Toronto, Amsterdam and London’s City Fringe, this session discusses the key issues in a place-based approach to economic development. Our three speakers surface a rich set of questions about development strategy, about partnership between developers, municipality, community and creatives, and about the goals of development: who, ultimately, benefits from creative clusters?

Temporary Use, a Key to Creativity: Redevelopment of old sites for the creative economy in the NetherlandsJeroen Saris, Director, de Stad bv, Netherlands

Creative Clusters and City Growth: Insights from an evaluation of cluster-led regeneration in the City Fringe.Susan Bagwell, Research Development Manager, Cities Institute, UK

As the Equal programme draws to a close, three of the EU’s biggest ESF projects dedicated to improving opportunity in the creative industries ask: was it worth it? Have the millions of Equal euros spent over the last seven years helped change the employment profile in the creative sector? How can we do better next time?

Recently dubbed ‘the New New York’, London is set to become the world’s top business capital, according to a widely-publicised report from management consultants McKinsey. Driven by a thirty-year expansion of its financial and business services, London’s growth has highlighted the critical role of its creative and cultural industries, providing 550,000 jobs and adding more than £25bn to its output every year.London is a unique asset for the UK as a whole, but intense world competition leaves no room for complacency. This session examines the ingredients of London’s success, the opportunities and challenges ahead, and how to ensure that its unique and diverse culture continues to fuel its confident dynamism.

What Works for London: Case studies of some policy interventionsTom Campbell, Head of Creative Industries, London Development Agency, UK

Show You the Ropes: Can you ‘train’ people to be part of the creative class?4:00pm to 5:30pm, Screen 2, Rich MixChaired by Lee Corner, LAC Limited

This panel debate will offer contrasting perspectives on how skill development and training can or cannot support entry to the creative industries.It will draw on the experience of Celebrating Enterprise, a multi-agency programme which through festivals has provided opportunity for individuals from migrant communities to test trade, attend courses and gain start-up advice, alongside views from those involved in shaping the sector’s skills policy.Delegates will receive a copy of the new policy report ‘Better than working for a living? Skills and labour in the festivals economy.’

Better than Working for a Living?: Skills and labour in the festivals economyKate Oakley, Visiting Professor, City University, Freelance, UK

Lead Rope Climbing: Creating new routes in the creative and cultural industriesShelagh Wright, Associate, Demos, UK

One of the challenges facing once-successful heavy industry areas is how to develop new confidence and activity without losing their identity, and how to re-purpose their skill-base without their communities becoming alienated. This session develops the view that for areas such as Detroit, East London and the Ruhr Valley, the ‘creative economy’ should not seen as a replacement for manufacturing, but as part of a new approach to it.

21st Century Creative Industries: Widening participation through the creative industries value chainGuy Nicholson, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and the 2012 Olympic Games, London Borough of Hackney, UK

The tools of cultural production and distribution are cheaper, easier to use and more widely available than ever before. Cultural consumers are the new producers: you can publish your life-story as it happens, ‘narrowcast’ a TV channel and trade with the world, wherever you happen to be. Mainstream media are increasingly asking viewers to supply up-to-the-moment and real-life footage.

We look at how collaborative software is changing the media landscape, and ask how policy-makers should respond.

The workshop examines the role of mentoring in helping ‘up and coming’ filmmakers advance their careers and draws on an independent evaluation of the pilot. How well did the project work? Is mentoring just a fast track to the powerbrokers? How can formalised mentoring enhance CPD and help filmmakers access the networks that matter in the industry?This workshop must be booked in advance on arrival at the conference.

Creative Clusters’ principal networking event is a South Asian-themed party and cabaret at The Circus Space. This former power station on Hoxton Square is now a leading centre for the circus arts.

This is the perfect setting to meet fellow delegates and conference partners. You can enjoy food, drink and conversation whilst taking in a mix of traditional and modern South Asian entertainment, from Bollywood spectacle to fire eaters and snake charmers. ‘Dreaming Now’ combine classical Indian dance and ballet with modern dance, circus and urban music influenced by the East. A variety of delicious Indian dishes will be served and drinks are provided.

This half-day seminar brings cultural practitioners, urban planners and economic development people into a conversation about the role of culture in improving the liveability of city streets.

The first part looks at the ‘Shared Space’ public realm improvement scheme for Exhibition Road that goes on site next year. In a Shared Space environment, most signs and road markings are removed, and the responsibility for negotiating a safe passage lies with individual drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, all of whom have parity of status.

A Vision for Exhibition Road: A space for a new century – Place making in a cultural contextDaniel Moylan, Deputy Leader, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, UK

Shared Space: A relatively new name for a concept emerging across EuropeHans Monderman, Consultant, Keuning Institute, Netherlands

The Role of Culture: The struggle for the soul of public spaceDavid Anderson, Director of Learning and Interpretation, Victoria and Albert Museum, UK

This event will offer delegates
the chance to observe at first hand the wealth of creative activity that forms possibly the world’s greatest concentration of creative industries.Soho contains some of the UK’s largest clusters of film, post production, advertising, publishing and entertainment sectors – being home to thousands of businesses, both multinational and independent.

The session will examine the practical challenges involved in supporting the business clusters which make up London and the UK’s largest creative hub.

It will start with an overview of the economic performance of the creative sectors in Westminster, based on a major business survey undertaken in 2006.

It will then explore the day-to-day dilemmas facing planners and policy-makers through case studies and a short ‘look and see’ tour of London’s most famous creative cluster, including the needs of creative businesses v needs of other businesses – old infrastructure v new development – organic growth v managed growth.

This workshop will explore the achievements and pitfalls of knowledge transfer within a live NESTA project, “Starter for Six” and will share on the ground experience of knowledge transfer, the organisational and broader barriers faced, learning realised and the measures taken to reduce risk. There will also be the opportunity to discuss transferability and adaptability within the field of education, training and business support services.

This workshop must be booked in advance on arrival at the conference.

Transferring Best Practice: Is growing and transferring best practice an achievable goal?Jackie McKenzie, Head of CPT, NESTA, UK

Westbourne Studios, once a contaminated London inner-city brownfield site underneath the Westway A40 motorway, is today recognised as one of the most exciting urban centres for micro creative industries in Europe.This visit offers the opportunity to have a look at the building and talk with Neil Johnston one of the prime movers in the evolution of a highly innovative building focusing on the formation of a cluster of creative micro businesses trading in national and international commercial markets. Neil is Chief Executive of Paddington Development Trust, one of the UK’s leading community-based regeneration companies, and will put the construction of this highly successful building designed and built by Simon Kirkham in the context of economic regeneration in one of London’s most deprived areas.

Savile Row has been a centre for bespoke tailoring for over 200 years and is one of London’s most renowned creative locations. Starting at Number 1 Savile Row within the headquarters of Gieves and Hawkes and taking in visits to world-renowned Savile Row workshops, delegates will learn about the history of the area, will witness the creative process at first hand, and learn what is now being done to protect and enhance this most specialist centre of creative activity.

Transforming Public Space – Part 2: What do we want our streets to be? Why are they of value?11:00am to 12:30pm, Lecture Theatre, V & A MuseumChaired by Josephine Burns, Burns Owens Partnership

This half-day seminar brings cultural practitioners, urban planners and economic development people into a conversation about the role of culture in improving the liveability of city streets. The seminar is connected with the ‘Shared Space’ public realm improvement scheme for Exhibition Road that goes on site next year. The seminar looks at the relationship between ‘soft’ cultural interventions and animation alongside the ‘hard’ infrastructure changes such as pedestrianisation and traffic management.

The Joy of Streets: What is their value and what do we want them to be?Sarah Gaventa, Director, CABE Space, UK

The Feast on the Bridge: Transforming perceptions of the Thames with participative eventsAdrian Evans, Director, Thames Festival, UK

Creativity and the Economy: A golden age or a lot of hot air?11:00am to 12:30pm, Main Theatre, Soho TheatreChaired by Lee Corner, LAC Limited

This session is a discussion of the core assumptions underlying formulations such as ‘creative city’, ‘creative industries’, and ‘creative economy’. Does this language indicate that we are moving into a golden age of creativity, where creative activities and values are increasingly needed and valued by society and government? Or are we over-using and abusing the idea of creativity, making it hyped and hackneyed? Can everyone be creative? Can all jobs be creative? Is a creativity a cause, or a consequence, of economic success?Come prepared for a lively and robust debate.

How Creative is the Creative City?: James Heartfield, Director, Audacity.org, UK

What the UK Needs To Do: To compete globallyMartin Smith, Policy adviser to the Chief Executive, Ingenious Media plc, UK

Wiki City Workshop11:00am to 12:30pm, Studio, Soho Theatre

Creative Districts should not be single use zones of cultural consumption or production but sustainable, mixed use neighbourhoods that require new development and partnership strategies. This workshop provides a practical insight into masterplanning for creative districts; levering private sector finance; defining end-users; anticipating economic outcomes and illustrating how public & private sector stakeholders can achieve mutual objectives both in terms of commercial returns & public benefit.This workshop must be booked in advance on arrival at the conference.

Central London Cultural District: Should there be a creative cluster strategy for central London?2:00pm to 3:30pm, Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera HouseChaired by Josephine Burns, Burns Owens Partnership

The West End of London is already one of the most vibrant cultural clusters in the world, encompassing global creative businesses, thousands of small firms, some leading arts institutions and a host of supporting networks and activities. It has got this way with no policy or plan to make it so – it has just evolved. Should this process of natural growth be trusted to continue to deliver the best for the area, or, with growing competition from other cities and other parts of London, and a new recognition by government of the importance of the ‘creative economy’, should West End cultural enterprises now be thinking about banding together in some way to improve their locale?

New Regions, New Rules: The creative development path for city-regions in Africa and South America2:00pm to 3:30pm, Crush Rooms, Royal Opera HouseChaired by Lee Corner, LAC Limited

This session looks at the creative economy in three of the world’s fastest-growing mega-cities: Sao Paolo, Lagos and Johannesburg (Gauteng region). Each has a population of around 10 million, that is predicted by the UN to double within twenty years. What effect will these vast centres of energy and gravity have in the global creative economy? And how should the quieter north trade, and exchange, and engage with them? Does, as Rem Koolhaas has argued, the apparent surface of chaos of these cities hide a high level of underlying order?

Re–Inventing Nollywood: The role of the Mafia in the development of the Nigerian film industryYetunde Aina, Director, Jadeas Trust, Nigeria

São Paulo, City of Contrasts: Turning creativity into a lever of socio-economic inclusionCarla Fonseca, Researcher and Consultant, Garimpo de Soluções, Brazil

The Gauteng City Region: The creative economy – from marginal to characterising the region.Avril Joffe, Director, CAJ (Culture, Arts and Jobs), South Africa